Our
Lord’s Great Prophecy
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Jerusalem’s
Destruction
How did Christ feel
concerning Jerusalem?
“And he
approached Jerusalem and saw the
city, he wept over it and
said, “If you, even you, had
only known on this day what would
bring you peace – but now it is
hidden from your eyes.” Luke
19:41,42.
In what words did
He foretell its destruction?
“The days will
come upon you when your enemies will
build an embankment against you and
encircle you and hem you in from
every side. They will dash you to the
ground, you and the children within
your walls. They will not leave one
stone on another, because you did not
recognize the time of God’s
coming to you.” Verses
43, 44.
What pitiful appeal
did He make to the city?
“O Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets
and stone those sent to you, how long
I have longed to gather your children
together, as a hen gathers her chicks
under her wings, but you were not
willing.” Matthew 23:37.
As He was about to
leave the Temple, what did He say?
“Look, your
house is left to you desolate.”
Verse 38.
Note – The Jews
filled up their cup of iniquity by
their final rejection and crucifixion
of Christ, and their persecution of
His followers after His resurrection.
(See Matthew 23:29-35; John 19:15;
Acts 4-8.)
Hearing these
words, what questions did the
disciples ask?
“As Jesus was
sitting upon the Mount of Olives, the
disciples came to him privately.
“Tell us, they said, “when
will this happen, and what will be
the sign of your coming and of the
end of the age?” Matthew 24:3.
Note – The
overthrow of Jerusalem and of the
Jewish nation is a type of the final
destruction of all the cities of the
world, and of all nations. The
descriptions of these two events seem
to be blended. Christ’s
prophetic words reached beyond
Jerusalem’s destruction to the
final conflagration; they were spoken
not for the early disciples only but
also for those who were to live
during the closing scenes of the
world’s history. Christ gave
definite signs, both of the
destruction of Jerusalem and of His
second coming.
Did Christ say
either event was imminent?
Jesus answered: “Watch
out that no one deceives
you. For many will come in
my name, claiming, ‘I am the
Christ,’ and will deceive many.
You will hear of wars and rumors of
wars, but see to it that you are not
alarmed. Such things must
happen, but the end is still to come.”
Verses 4-6.
What did He
say of the wars, famines,
pestilences, and earthquakes that
were to precede these events?
“All these are
the beginning of birth
pains.” Verse 8.
Note – These were
to precede and culminate in the
overthrow, first, of Jerusalem, and
finally of the whole world; for, as
already noted, the prophecy has
double application, first to
Jerusalem and the Jewish nation, and
second, to the whole world. The
destruction of Jerusalem for its
rejection of Christ in refusing to
heed the closing warning message sent
by God to prepare the world for
Christ’s second advent.
What would be the
experiences of His people?
“Then you will
be handed over to be persecuted and
put to death, and you will be hated
by all nations because of me. At that
time many will turn away from the
faith and will betray and hate each
other, and many false prophets will
appear and deceive many people.
Because of the increase of
wickedness, the love of most will
grow cold.” Verses 9-12.
Who did He say
would be saved?
“But he
who stands firm to the end will be
saved.” Verse
13.
When did Christ say
the end would come?
“And this
gospel of the kingdom will be
preached in the whole world as a
testimony to all nations, and then
the end will come.” Verse
14.
Note – Before the
fall of Jerusalem, Paul carried the
gospel to Rome – then the
capital of the world. He wrote of the
saints of “Caesar’s
household” (Philippians 4:22),
and further said that the gospel had
been “preached” to every
creature which is under heaven.”
Colossians 1:23.
Thus it was respecting
the end of the Jewish nation; and
thus it will be in the end of the
world as a whole. When the gospel, or
good news, of Christ’s coming
kingdom has been preached in all the
world for a witness to all nations,
then the end will come. As the end of
the Jewish came with overwhelming
destruction, so will the end of the
world.
What would be a
sign of the fall of Jerusalem?
“When you see Jerusalem
being surrounded by armies,
you will know that its desolation is
near.” Luke 21:20.
At this time what
were the disciples to do?
“So when you
see standing in the holy place the
abomination that causes
desolation,’ spoken of through
eh prophet Daniel – let the
reader understand – then let
those who are Judea flee to
the mountains.” Matthew
24: 15,16.
Note – In A.D.
66, when Cestius came against the
city, but unaccountability withdrew,
the Christians discerned in this the
sign foretold by Christ, and fled
(Eusebius, Church History, Book
3, chap. 5), while 1,100,000 Jews are
said to have been killed in the
terrible siege in A.D. 70. Here is a
striking lesson on the importance of
studying the prophecies and heeding
the signs of the times. Those who
believed Christ and watched for the
sign that He had foretold were saved,
while the unbelievers perished. So in
the end of the world the watchful and
believing will be delivered, while
the careless and unbelieving will be
snared and taken. (See Matthew
24:36-44; Luke 21: 34-36; 1
Thessalonians 5:1-6.)
When the sign
appeared, how suddenly were they to
flee?
“Let no one on
the roof of his house go down to take
anything out of the house. Let no one
in the field go back to get his
cloak. How dreadful it will be in
those days for pregnant women and
nursing mothers!” Matthew
24: 17, 18.
How did Christ show
further care for them?
“Pray
that your flight will not take place
in the winter or on the
Sabbath.” Verse 20.
Note – Flight in
the winter would entail discomfort
and hardship; an attempt to flee on
the Sabbath would doubtless meet with
difficulty.
The prayers of Christ
followers were heard. Events were so
overruled that neither Jews nor
Romans hindered their flight. When
Cestius retreated, the Jews pursued
the army, and the Christians thus had
an opportunity to leave the city. The
country was cleared of its enemies,
for the time of this siege, the Jews
has assembled at Jerusalem for the
Feat of Tabernacles. Thus the
Christians of Judea were abler to
escape unmolested, and in the autumn,
a most favorable time for flight.
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